Golden Temple witnesses record decrease in footfall

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 22

The impact of Janata curfew to combat the spread of Covid-19 witnessed a record decline in the footfall of devotees at the Golden Temple.

In normal days, the shrine sees a footfall of nearly 1 lakh people daily from all over the globe. SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said less than 500 devotees paid obeisance at the shrine. Consequently, Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Langar Hall catered to around 100 devotees.

He said the devotees should refrain from coming out of their houses as a precautionary measure. “We request all to stay indoors as per the advisory of the Health Department and government. The live telecast of Gurbani kirtan from the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine will continue,” he said. Sources said a majority of those who got stuck in the holy city due to disruption of rail and bus services had no option but to go to the shrine’s kitchen to partake of langar.

Meanwhile, dedicated teams of the SGPC-run Sri Guru Ram Das Charitable Hospital and local Health Department were present for the thermo-screening of every devotee visiting the shrine. This was followed by sprinkling of sanitisers on their hands before they entered the shrine.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the threat, the SGPC mulled postponing its annual budget 2020-2021 meeting scheduled for March 28 at Teja Singh Samundri Hall. Technically, the budget session is to be held before March 31 every year.